Try getting into a doctor in this town in a timely manner.

And according to the WHO, the US ranks 37th in health care

New Jersey Public Colleges have one of the highest average tuition costs (over $13000.00 per year ) in the country.

In an attempt to reduce the cost of getting a degree, the State Legislature had a Study Commission make recommendations.The Study Commission's recommendations were released last week.

Based on the recommendations,the Democrats in the State Legislature held a press conference yesterday to announce the introduction of an 11 Bill package aimed at addressing this.

They include:

1.Allowing more high schools to offer college level classes.

2.Providing a "Reverse Transfer" where credits from a 4 year university could be used to get an Associates Degree from a Community College.

3.A 3+1 program that would allow a student to go to a Community College for three years and a four year school for one.

According to an article in today's The Record,the goal of this is to reduce the time,and cost of getting a degree.
The legislation also mandates more cooperation between two and four year schools.

One thing I found interesting is that none of the recommendations,at least those mentioned at the press conference, talk about looking into ways to actually lower tuition at these schools.

Is that you, Professor Vedder? Ugggh, that is such a disproven right wing strawman. There are limits both annually and max borrowing with federal student loans, and here's the key part: they haven't kept up with inflation (same applies for Pell Grants). So riddle me exactly how student loans grants are driving tuition increases well beyond the inflation rate. Tuition increases at 4-year universities are being driven well beyond the rate of inflation by factors. No argument here, but it's not being driven because students can borrow more money than they previously could.

The aggregate borrowing of an undergraduate today is capped at $23K. In 1970, it would have been 9K. Adjusted for inflation, that's $55,868. So, an undergraduate today can borrow, adjusted for inflation, less than 50% what his grandparents could in 1970. Today's limits compared to what his parents could borrow in the late 80s and early 90s are somewhat better but still don't keep up with inflation, hovering at around 75% depending on the exact year one chooses to compare. Whatever is driving tuition increases, it's not access to more student loan money.

http://www.finaid.org/loans/historicallimits.phtml

Now, I will grant you that there has been a large increase in the total amount of loans being taken out every year, but that is being driven by more people going to community colleges and for-profit trade schools, where you'll also find the abysmal default rates.

A lot of research has pointed to one major reason for increased costs: a reduction in state support. In most states, a reduction in state support explains the entire increase in costs. Private elite colleges have also gone up, but at the same time they offer more scholarships and financial aid than ever--so the actual cost of admission to private elite colleges has gone down for most income groups. The very wealthy, who pay full price, subsidize the rest.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/fancy-dorms-arent-the... /

In Ohio, 91.2% of the increase in tuition from 2000 to 2014 can be explained by state cuts.

The amenities issue is a "Catch 22".

The last dorm that F.D.U. built was more like a hotel,including A/C,fridge and microwave in every room.I think the rooms may have also have had a sink,but I don't remember for sure.

Thing was,F.D.U.was only trying to keep up with what all the colleges they draw against had done already.

Filling older dorms, without these amenities is an issue,even if they cost less per semester.

Kids want the perks,cost doesn't seem to be a consideration.

Same thing,when they built a new Fitness Center,it had to compete with other schools in the area.